The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-10-29
THE BROTHER JONATHAN.

The telegraphic dispatches re-
Gently have furnished many state
ments about the search for the
wreck of the steamer Brother jon
athan and its reported discovery.
This steamer was wrecked on the
3Oth of July, 1865, off Point ST.
George, a short distance from Gre
sent City. She was on her way to
Oregon, but in rounding the point,
the wind being so strong that but
little headway could be made, it
was concluded to run back to this
harbor for heller until the wind
storm abated. While coming to
this port the vessel struck sunken
rock which stove in her bows, and
in a short space of time she sank.
AS soon as she struck all was con-
fusion on board. 1t was seen at
once that the vessel would be
total wreck, as her foremast had
grone through her bottom, the fore
yard lying across the deck. One
ships boat after another was
launched, each in turn being either
crushed against the vessels side or
swamped in the heavy sea. Fin
ally the captains boat was seized
by some of the crew, and notwith
standing the order of their COM
mander to the contrary, was success
fully launched and showed off from
the vessel. 1t was the last boat on
the ship, and those in her knew
that they were taking their last
look upon their friends and COM
panions. But human life is dear,
however lowly it may be, and we
can hardly blame them for secur
ing it to themselves in preference
to their superiors. The boat con-
tanned sixteen persons, and those
in the water who were shrieking
and imploring for help were showed
away, and we were told that one
who had his hands on the gunwale
of the boat was struck and made to
let go, sinking beneath the waves
never to rise again. This boatload
of persons, containing the third
mate, several of the crew, one China
woman, white woman and her lit
tie boy, reached Crescent City in
safety, between 4 and 5 o'clock in
the evening, about two hours after
the vessel struck. While on their
way down Mate Patterson, who
was in charge, informed us that
every time the little boat was lifted
upon huge wave he would take a
look at the vessel, but when half a
mile away she went down and was
lost to view entirely. Upon the ar
rival of the boat at this place, which
was the first intelligence of the
wreck, a boat was manned and
started for the scene, but no trace
of the vessel nor any human being
could be found; all had perished
in the angry waters. Since that
time not summer has passed
but there have been parties search
ing for the wreck, as the vessel
was known to have had a large
amount of treasure on board, be-
sides valuable cargo of merchan-
disc. Several times persons with
but little experience in such mat
ters thought they had found the
wreck, and divers were procured to
go down for a confirmation of their
belief. but nothing of the wreck has
been found until recently. Capt.
Peter Gee of San Francisco, who is
we'll acquainted with the coast,
after learning all the particulars of
the wreck possible, concluded that
he could .fnd it. He has therefore
been up for several summers max
ing as thorough a search as it was
possible to do, but until recently has
been unsuccessful. Last summer he
was almost certain he had located the
ex; c spot, but bad weather prevented
more thorough search. About three
weeks ago he came up, and he now
informs us that he has succeeded in
finding the vessel. She lies in 334
fathoms of water south about two
miles from Northwest Seal rock,
where the new Lighthouse is bel = =
built, and is some two miles north
west from Jonathan rock, named
so from the fact that it has been
supposed by most persons that
this was the place where the vessel
went down.
Where the Brother Jonathan was
found is a rock not laid down on
the chart, which has been known
to boatmen about here for long
time, and which has been named
by them Saddle Rock" AT low
tide there is some three or four feet of
water on this rock and at high tide
about ten. About 800 feet northwest
of this is where the wreck was found.
She had evidently struck this hid
den rock, and she filled with water
and slid off, as she naturally would,
and Aoated o short distance with
the cnrrent before going to the
bottom.
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